Kyle Langford (footballer)

Kyle Langford (born 1 December 1996) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Kyle Langford
Langford in August 2018
Personal information
Full name	Kyle Langford
Date of birth	(1996-12-01) 1 December 1996 (age 28)
Original team(s)	Northern Knights (TAC Cup)/Macleod
Draft	No. 17, 2014 national draft
Height	192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	88 kg (194 lb)
Position(s)	Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club	Essendon
Number	4
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2015–	Essendon	156 (175)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 8, 2025.
Career highlights
Essendon leading goalkicker: 2023, 2024 Essendon best clubman: 2020, 2021 2nd B&F: 2023 All Australian Squad: 2023
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Langford attended Ivanhoe Grammar School, and represented both the Northern Knights and Vic Metro in the TAC Cup and AFL Under 18 Championships respectively. He kicked back-to-back five-goal hauls and equaled the highest marking average of eight marks per match in the TAC Cup.^[1] In his younger years he played local football for Macleod in the Yarra Junior Football League.^[2]

AFL Career

Langford was recruited by the Essendon Football Club with the 17th overall selection in the 2014 national draft.^[3] He made his AFL debut against St Kilda in round 5, 2015.^[4]

He played 17 games in the 2016 AFL season, spending most of his time in the midfield and across the half-forward line. Langford booted 12 goals for the season (4th overall at the club), including three in the Bombers win over Carlton in round 23.

Langford received the No. 4 guernsey for the 2018 AFL season, previously held by club champion Jobe Watson.^[5] He took the next step in his development, showing plenty of skill and composure while playing in his new midfield role, while also being able to rest forward and contribute on the scoreboard.

In the 2019 home-and-away season, Langford played 17 of 22 games in a forward/midfield role.

The 2020 season saw Langford achieve his most consistent season to date. He played 16 of a possible 17 games, finished 4th in the club's Best and Fairest and 3rd in the club's goal kicking.

A 51-goal season in 2023 saw Langford win Essendon’s Leading Goalkicker award and gain inclusion in the 44-man All-Australian squad;^[6] however, he missed selection in the final 22.

Langford led Essendon's goalkicking for the second successive season in 2024, kicking 43 goals.

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024^[7]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2015	Essendon	30	8	3	3	27	37	64	15	19	0.4	0.4	3.4	4.6	8.0	1.9	2.4	0
2016	Essendon	30	17	12	7	134	126	260	81	58	0.7	0.4	7.9	7.4	15.3	4.8	3.5	0
2017	Essendon	30	6	4	4	47	35	82	26	19	0.7	0.7	7.8	5.8	13.7	4.3	3.2	0
2018	Essendon	4	16	9	8	168	119	287	64	78	0.6	0.5	10.5	7.5	18.0	4.0	4.9	1
2019	Essendon	4	17	15	3	153	146	299	60	56	0.8	0.2	9.0	8.4	17.4	3.6	3.1	0
2020[a]	Essendon	4	16	11	9	146	142	288	65	30	0.7	0.6	9.1	8.9	17.9	4.1	1.9	0
2021	Essendon	4	17	13	3	202	152	354	98	57	0.8	0.2	11.9	8.9	20.8	5.8	3.4	0
2022	Essendon	4	9	10	7	73	51	124	42	22	1.1	0.8	8.1	5.7	13.8	4.7	2.4	0
2023	Essendon	4	23	51	23	218	96	314	130	36	2.2	1.0	9.5	4.2	13.7	5.7	1.6	3
2024	Essendon	4	23	43	27	193	96	289	119	59	1.9	1.2	8.4	4.2	12.6	5.2	2.6	6
Career			153	171	94	1369	1007	2376	704	434	1.1	0.6	9.0	6.6	15.5	4.6	2.8	10

Notes

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.